If you vote in the odd number districts in New Berlin, this candidate forum is for you!

The Rotary Club of New Berlin is sponsoring its second annual candidate forum Saturday, Mar. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m.

It again will be held in the library at New Berlin West High School library, 18695 W. Cleveland Ave. The library is easily accessible when parking on the west side of the building, midway back near the rounded exterior.

The forum will feature the two aldermanic candidates from each of the districts. The time will be divided into 30-minute segments as follows:

District 1 -- from 1 to 1:30 p.m. -- for incumbent John W. Hopkins and challenger Dennis J. Fiedrich.

District 3 -- from 1:30 to 2 p.m. -- for incumbent Ronald Seidl and challenger David J. Jeske.

District 5 -- from 2 to 2:30 p.m.-- for candidates Jake Krueger and Deena Liska.

District 7 -- from 2:30 to 3 p.m. -- for incumbent David A. Ament and challenger Kevin W. Zokan.

Questions from the audience will be addressed to both candidates in rotating order so each will have the opportunity to be first to respond to a question. No personal attacks or comments will be allowed. Candidates will present opening and closing statements, each limited to three minutes.

Last year the Rotary Club presented a forum for the mayoral candidates and the New Berlin School Board. As chairperson, I appreciated the input of Kay Jashinsky, who had assisted Jeanne Crotty, the well-know moderator of New Berlin forums.

This year only three people are running for the three open positions on the School Boarsd, so there is no contest.

                          Andrew Rawson

____________________________________________

For Andrew Rawson of New Berlin, this Haitian crisis involves his whole family. His father, Ian Rawson, is the managing director of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital located 40 miles from Port-au-Prince. He, in turn, is carrying on the work of his parents, the late Dr. and Mrs.LarimerMellen.

Andrew, former president of the New Berlin Rotary Club, told members that when his grandfather founded the hospital in 1956 he named it after Schweitzer because of his inspirational missionary work.

Through the years the hospital’s mission has emphasized collaborating with the people of the nearby Artibonite Valley to improve their health and quality of life. This includes community based health centers, and a community based water resource/sanitation program.

Andrew described the challenges this 80-bed facility now faces while trying to accommodate crowds of patients. "Operating rooms are running all the time," he said. . Since there is no local electrical service, they depend on their three generators. And with rural roads, it can take seven hours to make the 40-mile drive.

According to his father’s report on the Internet, as of Jan. 24 they felt they had turned the corner on the acute shortages of badly needed antibiotics and analgesics. Also, each day they are using a month’s worth of supplies.

In Ian Rawson’s profile on http;//hashaiti.org, he praises a USA based team "for quickly working on the challenges in procuring and transporting medical supplies as well as medical teams specializing in trauma injuries."

In a posting on Jan. 28 the medical staff foresees problems as about 1 million people are leaving Port-au-Prince to return to their childhood homes or live with relatives. They are projecting 70,000 would be returning to the Artibonite valley near the hospital. Many will require medical attention, Bracing for the next wave, they need to strengthen supply lines as they treat hundreds of patients already admitted.

Dan Christianson, former president of the New Berlin club, is a coordinator of the International Rotary Shelterbox project that provides the homeless with sturdy, waterproof tents, along with provisions for survival.

In Haiti, shelterboxes are being set up to provide a tent city for about 40,000 people, thus replacing villages of sheets and sticks. This Rotary program is headquartered in Canada.

Christianson said Rotarians also set up a field hospital at the airport and recovery rooms at two major hospitals.

Members of the St. Petersville team, which took fourth place in the Future City competition, are (from left), Jake Binash, Jake Lubenow and Sebastian Berge.

._________________________________________________________________________________

 Hats off to 21 Holy Apostles’ students who participated in the recent Wisconsin Regional Future City Competition, held in conjunction with National Engineers Week.

Future City is a program developed for seventh and eighth grade students to help them discover and foster interests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, referred to as STEM. For many of these students, this is the first time for them to hear about these egineering societies and companies.

Devoting their fall semester in preparation -- under the direction of their teacher, Lisa Laabs -- really paid off.  Students returned with six awards.

A fourth place trophy was awarded for the city of St. Petersville and its team members, Sebastian Berge, Jake Lubenow and Jake Binach. They also received five Barnes & Nobel gift certificates, courtesy of Engineers & Scientists of Milwaukee (ESM) Educational Initiative sponsors. All teams received participation certificates, medals and t-shirts.

Other Holy Apostles participants were Jessica Robach, Rachel Fiedler and Kate Nieberle for their city, Bulle -- Joe Jeruc, Jake VonRueden and Gradyn Lentz for the city of Calville -- and Courtney Wenzel, Merideth Braza and Hannah Kinzer for the city of Concordancia.

Also participating were Courtney Nennig, Taylor Wendt and Stephanie McArthur for the city of Hyperville -- Elizabeth Alesci, Amber Krueger and Maddie Nikna for the city of Nueva Berlina -- and John Anderson, Bryan Olson and Joe Tadych for Striker City.

Other awards went to Striker City for best freight transportation network, and to Hyperville for best use of recycled materials. Bulle and Calville were among four cities named for exemplary model. Bulle also was awarded as most futuristic city and Calville received the project planning award.

This was the 19^th annual Future City competition. Over 100 students, who formed 35 teams, came from 14 Wisconsin schools. The first place team, from St. Mary Parish School in Hales Corners, will compete in the National Future City competition in Washington D.C. during National Engineers Week, Feb. 14 – 20. They will compete against approximately 40 other regions across the U.S.

Joyce Dimmer of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, served as a mentor to the Holy Apostles' teams. Representatives from various engineering societies and local firms served as judges, including New Berlin resident Mark Juds of Eaton Corp.

The setting can be anything from a quiet library to a dreamy tropical island.  But past experience tells us there's no way to avoid becoming involved in solving a murder -- especially when attending the Rotary Club of New Berlin's fourth annual mystery dinner.

Saturday, Feb. 13, Rotarians will be offering guests a unique way to celebrate Valentines Day. The presentation, "Murder in Sin City," places them in a Las Vegas setting, actually located in the New Berlin Banquet & Conference Center, 16000 W. Cleveland Ave.

The event opens at 5 p.m. with a silent auction and cash bar. A dinner buffet will be served at 615 p.m., after which guests will be receiving clues and solving the mystery.

The cost of $35 per person will support contributions to the community.  These include fundraising for the new library, supporting the food pantry, and contributing to the purchase of defribrillators for the New Berlin Police Department.   

For ticket information please visit our website: www.rotaryclubofnewberlin.org or contact Dianne Moore at 262-391-6250.

Taking on the identity of Mrs. Santa is much more than just a seasonal fun thing for New Berlin resident Jeri Winter. While helping her Santa for the past 40-some years, she has found this is a great way to cheer others.

Her list of "others" includes visiting schools, churches, the elderly, children with special needs, plus some adults with handicaps who are living in a group home. Jeri recalls how she and Santa even dressed up as Easter bunnies to visit a dying child on his birthday.

I recently asked this talented woman to fill in at a church women’s Christmas party when the scheduled program was cancelled due to snow storm predictions. Jeri agreed to help out, even on short notice. Arriving in an outfit she made -- worn with a pert bonnet and elf-like slippers -- Mrs. Santa was an immediate hit. She greeted people with a broad smile as she jingled her sleigh bells and wished them a merry Christmas.

She later explained how her life as Mrs. Santa evolved. Her husband, Bill, already had been volunteering as Santa for the Waukesha County Fair Board. When the younger of their two children became 10 years old, he told her it was time for her to join him.

Later they actually were paid for their regular appearances at the Country Springs Hotel. This is where they became involved with the Sunday brunches with Santa. They also are on deck for the World’s Greatest Cookie Sale, held at the hotel right after Thanksgiving.

Bill, who was the manager at Brookfield Square, also was their Santa. Jeri recalls an incident when a busload of basketball players stopped at the mall. When they saw this petite woman and her 5 ft. 8 in. husband, she said the players all lined up to sit on their laps. "And then we all switched places and we sat on their laps," she added.

There also was the time they were asked to ride in the back seat of a squad car to be escorted to visit a sick child in a poor neighborhood. Enroute, Jeri said people were staring at them, wondering what Mr. and Mrs. Santa did wrong.

Jeri is an expert in handling youngsters who are afraid of Santa. She showed her audience her stretchy beaded bracelet, which she uses to distract the frightened tots, and she has a special technique to soothe babies. "I talk to them in their own language, with oohs and ahs," she said.

When her husband passed away in 2002, her son, Billy, convinced Jeri that they had to continue the Winter family tradition. So he filled in for his father. Jeri notes he also has the kind blue eyes for which his father was known.

Of course, when Mrs. Santa is out of uniform, she does not retire her friendly smile. Jeri is one of the first to greet members of the New Berlin Senior Citizens Club as they arrive. And during meetings it is customary for this cheerful person – who sings in the Senior Chorus and participates in the Kitchen Band -- to lead about 100 members in "God Bless America."

And she will be jingling bells when the chorus performs during their meeting, Dec. 14, at the Senior Center held in the former New Berlin Library.

Milwaukee Showcase Chorus will feature Broadway show tunes Saturday, Nov. 14, when it performs "Black & White Nights Broadway" at New Berlin West High School, 18695 W. Cleveland Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the performance at 7:30 p.m.

The chorus, directed by Frank Marzocco, will host several quartets, including Marzocco’s male quartet, Shear Delight. Also featured is renowned jazz piano legend Frank DeMiles.

Two years ago the chorus was honored to participate in the 8^th Annual International Russian Barbershop Harmony Festival in St. Petersburg. As a member, I found it awesome to perform in these great concert halls. As we were warned, the five concerts were filled to standing room only, and the Russians treated us like rock stars.

Joining me from New Berlin is Jeannette Schupp. Sharon Gagnon grew up in New Berlin, and Libby Jansen is from Muskego.

Advance tickets are suggested, which are available from members, or by contacting Kylee Gregory at 414-614-4734. Tickets also can be purchased at the door. The cost is $15 and $12 for students or seniors (60 plus).

We like to think we are safe out here in the suburbs, especially during the daytime.

But New Berlin police are warning us that there are very active burglars operating out here during the day and people are seeing them but not calling the Police Department to report any suspicious activity.   

Detective Forest Clevenstine describes the suspect as a white male, medium build and height, short brown hair, mid 20’s. He has burglarized five homes in New Berlin since July 17, and during this past month he also has hit more homes in surrounding communities," .

The detective describes how the suspect does it. First he knocks on the front door.  If someone answers he will make up some type of excuse as to why he is there and quickly leaves. 

If no one answers he walks around the house looking for the easiest way in.  "The suspect either enters unlocked doors or windows or “donkey kicks” doors to force entry, and his targets are cash, jewelry, opiate pills, and other small valuables," Clevenstine states. 

He then carries out his loot in pillow cases and backpacks he has taken from the victims’ houses. 

Two suspicious vehicles have been seen:-- a green Jeep Cherokee and a silver or champagne colored Tahoe or Suburban with tinted windows.  The suspect also has been seen on a cell phone leaving these residences and getting picked up about a block away.

Years ago, as a reporter covering New Berlin, I wrote about a series of daytime burglaries. This person dressed as a businessman and no one was suspicious when seeing him carrying ietms out of a friend's home. 

Then, one afternoon he broke into my home. Police later told me he was the most active burglar, covering five counties, and he got the least from my house.  

I guess I did not have much of what he wanted.  He took a coat out of the closet, thinking it was fur.  When he saw it was a fake, he threw it on the floor. However, what he took had sentimental value, like my grandmother's hanging watch, and gold coins my husband got from his father. 

And there was the feeling of invasion -- someone going through all yoour drawers and dumping them out on the floor. 

Police are trying to emphasize the need for residents to be alert, and to call If you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood. For an emergency, call 911. Or you can contact Officer Dan Hanlon about crime alerts at 262-780-8106, or call the department's  non-emergency number, 262-782-6640.

National children’s study involves New Berlin.

New Berlin nurse, Mary Strehlow, promotes neighborhood study.

Women in three designated New Berlin neighborhoods have the opportunity to participate in a national study involving the health of children, according to Mary Strehlow, a nurse and long-time resident.

When speaking to members of the Rotary Club of New Berlin, Aug. 5, Strehlow emphasized this is the largest long-term study of children’s health ever conducted in the United States. Starting Aug. 10, trained personnel are going door to door in these neighborhoods.

She encourages residents to welcome these enumerators (interviewers) who will be looking for participants. This is not for tracking children already here, she emphasized, but for those to come. They are looking for women -- ages 18 to 40 -- who are pregnant or expect to become pregnant within the next five years. Participants also should expect to live in one of the county’s 17 neighborhoods during the child’s first year.

The goal of the study is to improve the health of children by looking at the effects of the environment. The study would follow these children from birth to age 21, looking at how their surroundings affect various health issues -- allergies, asthma, autism, obesity and diabetes, among others.

The study is being conducted in Waukesha County by scientists from the UW-Madison, Medical College of Wisconsin, UW-Milwaukee, and Children’s Health and Hospital System. There also is support from community agencies and organizations throughout Waukesha County.

Strehlow showed her audience a map of the United States, which pinpoints areas of participation. She noted that Waukesha County is the only part of Wisconsin involved in the study. She expects about 14,000 households will be contacted in the three randomly selected New Berlin neighborhoods. They will be checking out who lives there and looking for referrals.

She assured that participation in the study is voluntary and confidential. It is described as observational, which means no treatments or interventions will be involved.

Since Waukesha County is one of the first seven locations in the country to be part of the study, it is considered a "pilot" site. Also, participants will be compensated for their time spent and expense incurred, along with small tokens of appreciation.

"This is a popular study because it is about children," Strehlow added.

Asked how she became involved in this study, Strehlow said she was invited to serve as a volunteer for the outreach portion of the study and its promotion by one of the researchers who knew she was a nurse in obstetrics. She also serves on the advisory board as a member of the community.

For additional information one may contact Community Liaison Katie Miller at 262-798-0008.

The Rotary Club of New Berlin will help to benefit the city when it holds its Seventh Annual Community Benefit Golf Outing Thursday, July 30, at New Berlin Hills Golf Club.

This year the event is supporting the New Berlin Police Department, which has identified its need to replace two emergency defibrillators. Rotary President Jeff Hoffman notes that these defibrillators most commonly are used in the field to help revive heart attack victims.

Tee time is 11 a.m. The course is located north of Cleveland Avenue and west of 124^th Street. The entrance is off of 132^nd and Graham Streets. Events include 18 holes with a cart, a box lunch, two drinks of your choice, an awards dinner, plus thousands of dollars in prizes.

The cost is $100 per player -- $375 per foursome -- or $150 to sponsor a hole. Hoffman emphasizes players of all skill levels are welcome, adding, "This is an enjoyable way to show community support." .

Key sponsors for the event are Judson and Associates, Layton State Bank, and Schober, Schober & Mitchell, S.C., Attorneys at Law. For more information see www.newberlinrotary.org, or call Hoffman at 414-322-4778.

Rotary Club members are business and professional leaders who volunteer in their communities and lend helping hands around the globe. The New Berlin club also supports the New Berlin Library, as well as other local functions. Members meet every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at the golf course.

Above, Dr. Arthur Angove is standing behind Dr. Ted Ludwig and wife Judy.

The spirit of our former New Berlin Memorial Hospital is still alive! This I witnessed when invited to the recent 8^th annual New Berlin Memorial Hospital Women’s League Reunion, including spouses and friends. These people still continue their relationship as one big family.

Heading up the event for the 28 participants was Judy Ludwig, a former second grade teacher at Calhoun School. She is the wife of Dr. Ted Ludwig, a retired podiatrist.

Since many residents were not aware a hospital ever existed in New Berlin, five years ago I wrote two lengthy articles for my column in the New Berlin NOW -- from its opening in 1966, through its growth and then its fatal demise in 1988.

The hospital was located at 13750 W. National Ave., now the site of the sprawling Pro Health Care Regency Senior Communities, New Berlin.

H. Harpster Wonder, a doctor of osteopathy – is credited with getting the project going. Noting that the hospital was built on faith, Wonder recalls seeing a "for sale" sign on the Gene Jungbluth farm on National Avenue back in 1962.

He asked the family if they would hold the property for the project. He claims Jungbluth agreed to do this, which took two years, because he wanted a hospital built on his farmland.

Wonder then enlisted the help of other doctors, including the head surgeon, Arthur Angove. Both, now retired, were present at the dinner.

The doctors teamed up with Common Council President Robert Burns, Mayor P. Harry Eberle and City Engineer Don Polzin.

Hospital Administrator William Schwarten, now deceased, had told me he liked to think the hospital had grown with the community. Although it started out as a full service hospital, he explained that the obstetrics department later was discontinued because the staff was delivering fewer than 100 babies a year.

In 1976 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a $1 million expansion project. When the addition opened the next year, it brought the hospital to a capacity of 126 beds plus additional rooms for therapy and laboratories.

Meanwhile, a women’s guild sponsored fund-raising events, ran the gift shop and volunteered in the hospital. Doctors’ wives and board members formed the Women’s League that ran the annual spring benefit ball.

By 1981 tremendous pressures were mounting to consolidate medical services in the Milwaukee area to hold down cost. A committee of the Southeastern Wisconsin Health Systems Agency proposed closing New Berlin Memorial.

Mayor John Malone and the Common Council chastised the agency in a resolution, and Ken Matheson, president of the New Berlin Industrial Association, wrote a letter stating that the facility was necessary to the industrial complex. Also, 12,000 people signed a petition.

The agency backed down for three years. Then in January, 1986, New Berlin Memorial and Waukesha Memorial hospitals were consolidated, however, Angove recalls it was the Waukesha people who were appointed to the board.

The decline of New Berlin Memorial followed, and with no official warning, the doors closed April 8, 1988, shutting out a shocked and tearful staff.

During the reunion dinner many of the former hospital personnel updated me on their activities.

Dr. Arlen Delp is working with Lakeshore Medical Clinic.

Dr. Edward Aprahamian works part-time reading x-rays and MRI exams for two clinics in the Milwaukee area.

Drs. Charles Carton and Pat Krzyzewski are still in practice as podiatrist in Milwaukee.

Dr. Tom Riedel is a retired podietrist. His wife, Beverly, teaches at Waukesha County Technical College in the Community Health Dept. Her students will become nursing assistants.

Dr. Russ Seaman retired from anesthesia in 1997. He and his wife, Emy, spend winters in Florida and summers in Wisconsin.

Dr. Alex Momashko, a pathologist at New Berlin Memorial from 1970 until 1987, continued his practice at Waukesha Memorial until 2000. He and his wife, Marcia, are retired and live in Genesee. He still does lab inspections around the county and she is a fiber artist.

The Memorial Day service at Highland Memorial Park -- sponsored by New Berlin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5716 -- always attracts a large crowd to honor those who have served their country overseas. The ceremony this year was declared bigger than ever.

The post traditionally follows this up with another impressive ceremony – bestowing Patriotic Citizen Awards. It offers local organizations the opportunity to honor a special member by nominating this person to receive a flag flown over the United States Capitol.

The public is urged to come and cheer on the recipients during the 2 p.m. ceremony Sunday, June 7, at the VFW Post, 17980 W. Beloit Rd.

Two years ago I experienced this thrill when nominated by the New Berlin Lioness Club. My flag was flown over the Capitol on March 26, 2007.

Kathy Oleinik

This year the Lioness nominated Kathy Oleinik. As a member for only four years, she is completing a one-year term as president, as well as agreeing to take on a second term because the new nominee had to decline.

She previously organized an event honoring our New Berlin Lions. She also has taken charge of operating and stocking soda stands during the 11 days of State Fair -- when the Lioness help the Lions at their annual Corn Roast..

Oleinik, a Girl Scout leader for over 25 years, notes that she has led Troop 42 the last 20 years. The membership includes 87 girls-- yes, 87 girls-- in middle school and high school who attend 17 different schools in the area. They take a major bus trip every two years, attend national jamborees, plus other travel swhic has taken them through most of the states.

Oleinik also is involved on committees at Blessed Savior Lutheran Church. Her husband, Vern, had served as a New Berlin police officer for 34 years and their adult children, Stacey and Jason, grew up in New Berlin.

And since this nominee will be out of town with her scouts, her husband will be accepting the flag.

Posing as a grandson -- who needs money to get out of jail in Canada because of a fishing violation -- apparently is a successful scam operation.

In my last blog I had described how a friendly young guy claimed to be my grandson, Jim. He tolld me that he and his buddies unknowingly were fishing on hallowed Indian grounds in Ontario, and now he needed money to get out of jail. .

He said he had a cold and I was completely convinced I was talking to Jim with a cold. Fortunately I had no cash available to contribute. I told him I would have to sell some stock and that would take four days to clear. When I suggested he call "Uncle Mark," he suddenly hung up.

Calls among my family members located Jim at his desk at work, followed by my call to the New Berlin Police Department. Checking back with an officer last week, he said there had been no other similar complaints.

But there are a many reports about "grandparent scams," listed on the internet.

For instance, a Massachusetts newspaper reported that a third resident had fallen prey to this telephone scam and two of the victims lost more than $9,000. Their grandsons supposedly were arrested in Canada for fishing without a license and the grandmothers needed to wire money immediately from either Wal-Mart or U.S. Bank.

Or the caller might say there was some type of motor vehicle violation.

The Pittsburgh Gazette noted a grandmother, who walks with a cane, drove to Wal-Mart to wire $1,000 in bail money. Then she was contacted a second time. Becoming suspicious, she called her grandson’s mother and learned he was at work. The scammer still had the nerve to call her a third time.

When in doubt about a request for money, police advise asking the caller how to reach him and that you will call him back. If he doesn’t do that, it’s a sign he is up to no good.

It is amazing how much information there is about each of us on the internet, including the names of our family members. So this guy who called me actually knew I had a grandson named Jim.

Shortly after this scam attempt, my son Mark was in Montreal, Ontario. Telling a business associate about my phone call, he  replied that this type of arrest would never happen there. He jokingly explained that if the Indians caught you on their hallowed grounds, they probably would shoot you and the police would never know about it.

This guy was so clever. I answered the phone and he said, "Hi, this is Jim."

I’m thinking, this is Grandson Jim letting me know if his family will be coming over for Easter dinner.

His voice sounded a little deeper, but he noted that he had a cold. I agreed that I could hear it in his voice. We conversed just like it really was my grandson. He told me he actually was calling from Canada. When I asked where he was in Canada, he said he was in Ontario on a fishing trip with his buddies.

That was kind of a surprise, but he does come up to our cottage with his buddies, so I suppose this could happen.

Then he told me they didn’t know they were fishing on hallowed Indian land and they were picked up and arrested. He wanted to know if I cold help him out because he did not have money to pay the fine, and emphasized I would get my money back.

I explained that I didn’t have any money available right now, and flippantly added "try calling Uncle Mark." Then we suddenly were disconnected.

I e-mailed my son, "Uncle Mark" at work. He, in turn, called Lori (Jim’s mother.) Lori called me and was surprised that Jim had not tried to call her. Then she thought he probably decided to call his father instead.

At the time I was wondering if I should feel honored that I was the first one Jim thought of calling.

Lori then called her husband, who suggested this is a scam. She thought she would check to see if Jim was at work, and he answered the phone. He was not in Canada.

She then called me back and told me to call the police, which I did. The officer asked if I have caller ID. Unfortunately I don’t, and there were several calls in between.

A person gets used to seeing scam attempts on the computer – but not on the phone!

So I want to warn others to beware of any phone calls from stranded persons needing money wired to them. And I still can’t believe how comfortable I felt talking to this guy, thinking he was my grandson.

If you missed the candidates’ forum last Saturday -- sponsored by the Rotary Club of New Berlin -- you still have a chance to view it on tape in the City Hall chambers. But you are asked to call the clerk's office at 262-786-8610 to check when this room is available.

We also had the backing of the New Berlin School District, which provided the site -- the New Berlin West High School library -- as well as setting up tables and chairs and taping the proceedings.

Everything was clicking, including the participants. When I contacted the two mayoral candidates and the four people running for School Board, all could participate that day.

Even the weather cooperated. And for those candidates anxious to get out on the campaign trail, they only had to be committed for a little more than an hour. Mayor Jack Chiovatero and Ald. Ted Wysocki, a former mayor, each were looking to serve a second term. They competed from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by the School Board candidates.

Susan Manley previously had served a term on the School Board and Paul Lincoln Scheuble was an alderman. Although their competitors, Keith Hastings and Peggy LaSalle, were new to politics, they bravely held their own in the barrage of questions from moderator Tom Koller, Rotary president.

If you prefer going on line for candidate information, the School District provides the following:

School Board -- http://nbps.mediasite.com/nbps/Viewer/?peid=d549be38a54b4a22a3805d9f3c56c1b7

With the election for New Berlin mayor and the New Berlin School Board coming up April 7, voters are encouraged to see our candidates in person by attending a public forum, sponsored by the Rotary Club of New Berlin.

It is being held Saturday, March 14, at the New Berlin West High School library, 18695 W. Cleveland Ave.

Starting at 1 p.m. New Berlin Mayor Jack Chiovatero will be competing with his challenger, Alderman Ted Wysocki -- who wants to regain his position as mayor, which he lost to Chiovatero four years ago.

Then, at 2 p.m. the candidates for the New Berlin School Board will introduce themselves, and voice their opinions about various issues.

Competing for two positions on the school board are the top four winners of the six candidates who ran in the recent primary election. Listed in alphabetical order are Keith Hastings, Peggy LaSalle, Susan Manley and Paul Lincoln Scheuble.

Manley is a former school board member and Scheuble is a former District 4 alderman. He also ran for mayor in this primary election.

Voters will be provided index cards to write questions for the candidates. Ushers will collect these cards and hand them to Rotary President Tom Koller, who is serving as moderator.

Each candidate will be given a chance to reply to the questions at their session. The forum will end at 3 p.m.

The forum will be covered by John Schultz of New Berlin NOW, and it will be filmed to be viewed on the city Web site at www.newberlin.org/

Volunteering can have unexpected rewards. While attending a recent Lion/Lioness convention I wandered into a talk about diabetes. As I entered, the speaker (a chef) was asking for volunteers to wash the pots and pans he would use in his demonstration of low calorie cooking.

Wow! A New Berlin Lioness friend, Frenchi Trottier-Wasielewski, was the first eager helper, along with three others. Then this chef relented and announced that because of their willingness to help, he really just needed them to sit at a table up front and taste his cooking.

Although I’m not a diabetic, I really did find his talk interesting. He emphasized that the miracle food for fiber is a can of beans, and although it’s important to use mono-unsaturated oil – they really should go easy on the oils.

He advised adding flavor with herbs and spices – fresh spices, preferably in leaf form. And if anyone has any spices in McCormick cans, these really are old because the firm has not used these cans for ages.

That struck home. Later, when I checked out my spice shelf, I had five of them. And if the same goes for the French’s and Durkee brands, that makes three more.

When Frenchi was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last June, she was told her sugar count was at stroke level. Since then she has been attending classes, counting carbs and following a serious weight loss effort.

But getting back to the food tasting, she said the main dish included chicken, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, red and green peppers and white kidney beans. "It was delicious and only eight carbs per serving."

Since diabetics are allowed 60 carbs per meal, that left room for dessert, which was only 22 carbs. It consisted of pound cake, sugar-free chocolate and raspberry sauces, and a fat free whipped topping. To this he added fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.

"It was fantastic," Frenchi said, adding that the chef was "very entertaining and informative."

And since it is extremely important that diabetics check their blood at different times a day, every day, those attending received a free diabetics’ meter.

When driving past Holy Apostles School in New Berlin, most would be surprised to learn that 19 of the seventh graders are involved in "Engineering the Future."

Under the direction of their teacher, Lisa Rodriquez, five teams of students entered the Future City Wisconsin Regional Competition sponsored by a non–profit, volunteer organization known as the Engineers & Scientists of Milwaukee (ESM).

During this event, held Jan. 24 at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Holy Apostles had the most teams registered to compete. Rodriguez noted these five teams had been working since the beginning of the school year to complete all the requirements, sometimes staying after school until 5 p.m.

Based on this year’s theme, they were asked "to create a self sufficient system within the home which conserves, recycles, and reuses all existing water sources." Each group was involved playing the Sims City computer game, writing an essay on the theme, writing an abstract of their model city, creating a model city, and during the competition, presenting their city along with their essay ideas.

Rodriguez said the students needed to work on time management and team building, as well as how to work as a team. In the process they had fun learning about engineering and practicing communication skills they will need later in life.

Their future cities and team participants include:

Bay City,  created by Nick Popp, Jared Pope, Lucas Porubsky, Chirs Setzke, Dallas Thompson and Mitch Wendt.

Holy Angels, created by Jacob Binash, Jake Lubenow and Nolan Diffley.

Jinx. created by Hannah Kinzer, Kate Nieberle and Jessica Roback.

Link City, created by Sebastian Berge, Paul Heyman and Luke Theisen.

Riverview, created by Meredith Braza, Rachel Fiedler, Emily Kern and Elizabeth Schwemmer.

Holy Apostles took four awards. Jinx received two -- the Exemplary Model Award sponsored by American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Project Planning Award sponsored by Project Management Institute. Bay City was named Best Use of Plastics sponsored by the Society of Plastics Engineers, and Holy Angels was awarded Best Use of Recycled Materials sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers.

In reference to judges, Mark Juds of New Berlin organized the judges and the criteria for the Best Power System Award and he served as a general preliminary round judge. He was given a business card by a member of Jinx

.Since the competition is only open to seventh and eighth grades, Rodriguez added, "I can’t wait until next year when they come with more great ideas and enthusiasm, as well as the experience of what it is like to compete in the Future Cities competition."

The Rotary Club of New Berlin cannot put an end to a series of murders that keep interrupting their annual dinners. In fact, members guarantee it will happen again during their third annual murder mystery dinner and silent auction, "Hulas and Homicide."

This year’s fundraiser places you in a tropical setting Saturday, Feb. 28, at the New Berlin Banquet & Conference Center (formerly Kuglitsches), 16000 W. Cleveland Ave. Cocktails at cash bar start at 5 p.m., followed with a buffet dinner at 6:15 p.m.

Then, while everyone is having a good time, it always happens. One of the characters is murdered. This time someone decided to end the career of a woman known as a "hula honcho" right on the night of the extravaganza.

Dinner guests are invited to become detectives. Clues are gathered by interviewing the suspects (played by some Rotarians and friends) as they visit each table.

Of course you still have plenty of time to visit and revisit the buffet table, which features three entrées

Proceeds from the event support local programs that the club sponsors. A major project has been providing a second floor resource center for the New Berlin Library. The club also supports local educational intiatives and contributes to the New Berlin Food Pantry.

The Rotarians also are sponsoring a forum for mayoral and school board candidates Saturday, March 14, at New Berlin West /Middle/High School, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Tickets for the murder mystery are available through members, by contacting Steve Wattles at 262-786-9897, or email murdermystery@rotaryclubofnewberlin.com. Tickets cost $40. Tables of eight are available for a discounted amount of $300.

Here’s a chance to give yourself a Christmas present that could save your life.

Through Life Line Screening, being offered Tuesday, Jan.13, at Blessed Savior Lutheran Church in New Berlin, you could possibly ward off strokes and vascular disease.

Health service coordinator Rob Ray recently told members of the New Berlin Rotary Club that stroke is the number one reason that people move into nursing homes and the third leading cause of death in the United States.

However, according to the National Stroke Association, 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. He explained that through these tests they identify plaque buildup in the carotid arteries, which is the leading cause of strokes.

They also test for abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis. Added to the package is their new heart rhythm screening for atrial fibrillation.

"The key is knowing what’s happening inside your body so something can be done about it," Ray said, noting that family physicians are limited by insurance companies in ordering specific tests. He encouraged annual screenings and sharing the results with your physician.

Asked if they have doctors performing these tests, Ray explained that trained technicians are operating this ultrasound technology, just like in the hospitals.

To encourage yearly screening, returning customers are offered a $10 discount to their special packages.

Blessed Savior Church is located at 15250 W. Cleveland Ave. You can schedule a screening by calling Life Line Screening toll free at 1-888-751-1131.

.